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Syracuse’s season hinged on a last-ditch poke check from Joely Caramelli.

With two minutes remaining in SU’s Atlantic Coast Conference Quarterfinal matchup against Virginia, the Orange led 10-9. The advantage had once been as high as five. UVA clawed into striking distance, while SU’s offense had been silent for 10 minutes.

The shot clock wound down. On a crucial offensive possession, Ashlee Volpe fed a cutting Molly Guzik, who tried to rip a behind-the-back prayer on goal. Her bid was stuffed before it even got close to goaltender Elyse Finnelle, spilling in front of the net. As the ball sat on the ground, UVA’s Kate Demark and Finnelle shielded it off, having forced the turnover it needed to keep its season alive.

That was until Caramelli reached out, poking Finnelle’s stick as she tried corralling the rock. The ball squirted around the turf, and Emma Muchnick collected it at the edge of the fan. She kept her eyes up and whipped a pass to Guzik, who faked high and placed a shot past Finnelle.

Eleven to nine. Two minutes left.

The Orange could finally exhale.

The late score was the final touch Syracuse needed Wednesday, as the Orange (13-4, 7-3 ACC) beat Virginia (8-9, 6-4 ACC) 11-9 in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. Despite tallying just six goals last time out against the Cavaliers, SU ignited for 11 scores Wednesday, including a season-high four from Muchnick. UVA outscored SU 7-5 in the second half, but the Orange held on, advancing to play No. 1 North Carolina in the semifinals Friday.

“There’s just no easy outs,” Syracuse head coach Regy Thorpe said postgame. “We got a lead, they came storming back, but we kept our composure and made a few plays down the line.”

Guzik’s last goal was the biggest of those key plays Thorpe alluded to, but Muchnick came up with another crucial one moments after Guzik restored the two-goal advantage.

With a minute remaining, Muchnick made a crucial interception on UVA’s last possession. She completed the clear, allowing SU to chew the clock and secure its first ACC Tournament victory since 2024.

It was one of Muchnick’s best performances for Syracuse. The senior’s four goals ignited SU from the start.

“She was just all over the field today,” Thorpe said of Muchnick. “At this time of the year, you need your seniors to step up in big moments, and I thought she did that.”

They were all necessary in Wednesday’s contest. When Virginia and SU met in March, the Orange scored just six goals. But with three scores in the first frame, Syracuse was already halfway to its total from that last matchup. By halftime, the Orange matched it.

Syracuse midfielder Bri Peters celebrates with Molly Guzik after scoring a first-half goal in SU’s win over Virginia. Nell Redmond | Atlantic Coast Conference

Syracuse’s defense kept UVA off the board for 21 minutes straight, including 13 in the second quarter, allowing the Orange to take a four-goal lead into the half. SU shot 6-of-22 against the Cavaliers in March. It started the game 6-of-9 Wednesday.

Virginia eventually woke up, though. After an Alexa Vogelman goal opened the frame, the Cavaliers went on a quick 3-1 run late in the third, sparked by seven straight draw wins.

Megan Rocklein, Cady Flaherty and Madison Alaimo all found the net in quick succession, pulling the game back within three at the 2:09 mark in the third. Muchnick helped settle the nerves with a swift bouncing finish with a minute to play, though, putting SU up 9-5 after three frames.

“I think we came out with great intensity,” Thorpe said. “We made some mistakes in the third and they capitalized, but it’s not like we were doing them at half speed.”

In the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers cut the lead to one for the first time since the first quarter, following three quick goals from Allen and Gabby LaVerghetta. But, while UVA had a chance to tie the game at 10 with four minutes remaining, Dan Guyette stood tall and denied a great look in transition.

With momentum completely against the Orange, they needed a score on one of their final possessions to solidify the result. And with two minutes remaining and four seconds on the shot clock, Guzik got it.

Out of a timeout, SU struggled to break down UVA’s defense. The Cavaliers jarred the ball free on Guzik’s initial behind-the-back and looked to start the attack the other way after Finnelle corralled the ground ball. But Caramelli’s timely check set up the eventual game-sealing goal, and Muchnick’s interception on the other end gave Syracuse sure-fire safety.

It was another contest where the Orange had to hold their breath late. But with the amount of close games his squad has played, Thorpe says they’re simply immune to them. It’s surely a good trait to have in the postseason.

Perhaps if Caramelli hadn’t stuck with that play, though, it would’ve been a different story. The Orange could have lost back-to-back games for the first time since February. Syracuse could have spent the weekend anxiously waiting to see if it’d done enough to get an NCAA Tournament top-eight seed.

But SU showed its immunity. Now, it’ll get another shot at the nation’s top team because of it.

Published on April 22, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Contact Harris: harrispemberton@gmail.com | @HarrisPemb6